How to prevent your pipes from freezing in winter weather

Frozen pipes in your home can be a minor inconvenience or an expensive catastrophe. In a best-case scenario, a frozen pipe may cause a brief interruption in your water supply — no big deal.

However, water expands when it turns to ice, and that pressure can cause a pipe to crack. If it does, you may be calling a plumber. And if the crack happens when you're away from home, you could be looking at thousands of dollars in water damage when the ice melts. There’s no doubt prevention is better than the cure.

Watch this video to learn how to prevent pipes from freezing in the winter.

At what temperature do pipes freeze?

It’s best to start thinking about protecting your pipes before temperatures dip. However, there’s no magic number at which your pipes will freeze. Generally, though, the risk increases when temperatures drop to around 20 degrees. Of course, the location of the pipes and the amount of insulation around them also factor in.

How to prevent your pipes from freezing

The simplest way to prevent your pipes from freezing is to keep the water moving. Once the mercury drops below 20 degrees, let your faucets drip cold water, especially overnight or if you won’t be home for an extended period. If you don’t want to run every faucet in your house, Mississippi State University's Extension for Real Life suggests dripping the faucet farthest from your water meter to keep water moving through your home.

You don’t have to let that water go to waste, either. Set a container underneath to collect it for later use. Add it to your pet’s water bowl, give it to plants, use it to hand-wash clothes, or use it to wash hands or flush the toilet.

In addition to dripping faucets, it also helps to keep your home’s temperature regulated. That includes keeping the thermostat above 55 degrees, keeping interior doors open to maintain an even temperature throughout the home, and opening under-sink cabinets around faucets. If your water supply line runs through your garage, don’t forget to close the garage door.

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How long does it take pipes to unfreeze?

Not every frozen pipe will burst, and thawing a pipe can be a relatively simple task that takes about half an hour, depending on the weather and where the blockage is.

If you choose to do it yourself, start by turning on the faucet to relieve pressure. Next, slowly apply heat using a hair dryer or a space heater. Wrapping the pipe in heat tape can also work. Do not use an open flame, which can damage the pipe and poses a fire hazard. Once the water begins to flow again, leave the faucet running for a few minutes to allow the ice to clear the system completely.

The DIY method can save you money. But if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, it pays to keep your local plumber’s number on speed dial.